24 Hours in Israel

by Yarden Frankl
Crossing the Yarden
March 14th, 2011

http://www.crossingtheyarden.com/2011/03/24-hours-in-israel/

Saturday night.

Checked the Net. Learned of the attack.

Shock.

Sadness.

Anger.

Rage.

Sunday morning.

Went to work.

Caught a ride home from Jerusalem with a woman I had never met.

I get into her car. On the radio, the funeral.

The one giving the eulogy started crying.

The driver started crying.

I started crying.

Strangers, united in sadness.

We drove the whole way, not speaking in words.

Speaking in tears.

Sunday night: Put the kids to bed and headed out to a wedding.

Under the Chuppa, singing about Jerusalem.

Dancing with friends.

Dancing with strangers.

Not speaking with words, speaking in song.

Round and round we danced, everyone together.

Jumping, singing, smiling.

Yibaney, Yibaney, Yibaney HaMikdash.

Lord, rebuild the holy temple.

Am Yisrael, Am Yisrael, Am Yisrael Chai.

The Jewish people live!

Od Yishamay… Let there be heard in the mountains of Judea and and the streets of Jerusalem, the sounds of joy and happiness, the voice of the bride and groom….

Yay Yay YayNa Na Na ……

Soon there are no words in the songs, just the sound of simcha as we go faster and faster, round and round holding each other’s arms.

We are old, we are young. We wear black kippot and knitted ones.

We keep dancing together until we are so tired we can hardly stand.

Bride and Groom glowing with happiness.

A crowd, united in joy.

Welcome to Israel.

Anyone who saw the unrestrained joy at the wedding as we danced and sang about Jerusalem would realize that no matter what happens:

We love this land, we love each other, and we’re not going anywhere.

What will tomorrow bring?

I don’t know.

But thank G-d I live in Israel.

Yarden Frankl is an avid blogger, biker and runner, though not necessarily at the same time or in that order. He produces short films, long-term media analyses, and other efforts related to media bias for HonestReporting as their Special Media Projects Manager. Yarden’s blog, Crossing The Yarden, can be read at http://www.crossingtheyarden.com. He currently lives in Neve Daniel, Israel with his family, bikes, and dog.

If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
.